하와이 보건부(Hawaiʻi Department of Health, DOH)는 미국 환경보호청(EPA)과 협력해 호놀룰루 수도위원회(Honolulu Board of Water Supply, BWS)에 최대 7천500만 달러를 지원할 것이라고 밝혔다. 

이 자금 지원을 통해 BWS는 할라와 샤프트(Hālawa Shaft) 사용을 재개해 식수를 생산 할 수 있게 된다. DOH는 지난 11월 30일 BWS에 이 기회를 알리는 서한을 보냈다.

2021년 11월 해군의 레드 힐(Red Hil)l 대량 연료 저장 시설에서 연료가 유출되는 사고가 발생한 후 BWS는 할라와 샤프트를 폐쇄하기로 결정했다. 할라와 샤프트의 물이 현재 마시기에 안전하지 않은 것으로 조사되면, 할라와 샤프트를 다시 가동시키기 위한 처리 시스템을 제공하는 데 이 자금을 사용할 수 있으며, 이를 통해 하루 1천만 갤런(MGD)의 물을 추가로 공급할 수 있게 된다.

현재 연방 최소 오염물질 수준(MCL)에 설정돼 있지 않고 식수 오염물질 후보 목록(CCL)에 등록돼 있는 오염물질을 처리하는 경우 「초당적 인프라법(BIL)」에 의해 자금을 지원받을 수 있다. DOH는 「초당적 인프라법」의 신규 오염물질 조항을 통해 잠재적인 자금 지원을 확인했다. 「초당적 인프라법」 자금은 2026년까지 제공되며 100% 면제된다.

DOH는 BWS에 보낸 서한에서 할라와 샤프트 재가동하는 것 외에도 연방 자금 지원의 기회를 얻을 수 있는 다른 BWS 프로젝트를 추가로 확인했다.

[원문보기]

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND EPA SECURE FEDERAL FUNDING TO INCREASE SUPPLY OF SAFE DRINKING WATER

The Hawaiʻi Department of Health (DOH) has partnered with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to secure up to $75 million for use by the Honolulu Board of Water Supply (BWS). Among the potential uses for this funding is that BWS can resume use of its Hālawa Shaft for drinking water production. DOH sent BWS a letter informing it of this opportunity yesterday.

After the November 2021 fuel spill at the Navy’s Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility, BWS decided to close the Hālawa Shaft out of an abundance of caution. If test results show that the water from the Hālawa Shaft is not currently safe to drink, the federal funds can be used for a treatment system that will enable BWS to bring the Hālawa Shaft back into service, adding a resource of 10 million gallons per day (MGD).

“The BWS’ decision to raise water rates by about 50% may create a hardship for many residents. It’s important for the BWS to take advantage of available federal funding to reduce the costs it passes on to O‘ahu residents,” said Governor Josh Green, M.D.  “My administration is focused on partnerships and solutions, and I appreciate DOH’s efforts to secure this federal funding opportunity.”

“While DOH monitors the Navy’s aquifer remediation efforts, these federal funds provide an opportunity to increase the supply of safe drinking water in the near term and potentially avoid the need to construct a new replacement well,” said State Health Director Dr. Kenneth Fink. “Similar treatment systems have already been installed in Mililani and at the ‘Ewa Shaft treatment facility to provide safe drinking water to Oʻahu residents.”

DOH identified potential funding through the emerging contaminants provision in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). A project is eligible for this funding if it addresses any contaminant that does not currently have a set federal minimum contaminant level (MCL) and appears on any of the Drinking Water Contaminant Candidate List (CCL). Based on what’s known about the Red Hill contaminants, this project would seem to qualify. The BIL funds are provided through 2026 and are 100-percent forgiven.

In its letter to BWS, DOH identified, in addition to the reopening of the Hālawa Shaft, other BWS projects that would qualify for the federal funding opportunity. Click here to read DOH’s letter.

[출처 = Hawaiʻi Department of Health(https://health.hawaii.gov/news/newsroom/department-of-health-and-epa-secure-federal-funding-to-increase-supply-of-safe-drinking-water/) / 2023년 12월 1일]

[번역 = 배민지 차장]